The Power of the Presence, part I - David Godman

[Guest guest]

Q. In golden ornaments both the gold and the ornaments seem to be real

.. The only difference is that the piece of gold does not have the same

beauty as the ornament. Likewise , both Brahman and the world appear to

be real.

Maharshi :

Whether you keep the gold or the gold ornaments , in both , the

basic material is the same. The name given to a form is for everyday

activities . If there were a lot of gold ornaments lying around , and if

we were to say 'please get the gold' the job could not be done. Similarly

, there is only "I" and it is the same in all people , but for worldly

activities we cannot say 'please call that "I".' That is why some "I"'s

are called 'Ramachandran' and some 'Krishna Lal'. Even so , there

is only 'I'.

Q: If the "I" at one place calls the 'I' at some other place 'I',

many mistakes will happen.

M. During worldly activity , if your attention is fixed on the

fundamental reality , there is no difficulty . But ordinary people

forget the reality and take the name alone to be real. The different

"I"'s are not real. There is only one 'I'. The separate "I" is like a

watchman in a fort . He is like the protector of the body. The real

owner in everybody is only the one real 'I'. So , when the separate "I"

surrenders to the real "I" , then , [ because the idea of a separate

self who 'owns' the body disappears ] , "I" and 'mine' are eliminated .

The true state comes into existence when , after sorting out what

belongs to whom , the ego "I" surrenders itself to the real owner.

 

Q. If such teachings are spread in the world there will be no wars.

 

M. [ no reply].

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